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THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE AND CAPE COUNTY HEgALD. VrIDAYQYE-MBER 4, iVti. -. - . "V-,-- .7
Fourth Installment
Of this Year's
Best Story
(Continued from Friday.)
CFTAPTEk vi'i." '" "
Wilkerson the Plotter.
DEN be bad thoroughly learn
ed Ills lesson Wilkerson cool
ly, in pite of the letter be
uad received from Jean Dar
w
325:
nell.. Iu New York, telling blna of ber
willingness to finance her scheme, de
termined he must be friends with John
Dorr, at least outwardly. So be
smoothed out the risible wrinkles in
his face, trying to veil the malicious
gleam in hiseyes, and spent two days
quietly trying to show bis amiability,
not only to the miners, but to Dorr
himself.
Wilkerson wai absolutely certain
that bis old partner, Thomas Gallon,
had really made a rich find and that
he had lost the location and accepted
"The Master Key" as a substitute in
the hope that by working it thoroughly
he might" find tbe mother lode. In
other words, careful manipulation or
j"Y
T
f
MLc?L-'x:Z Oiv'S 'V
"Look here, Wilkerson, maybe both ot
, us have made a mistake."
the present mine, painstaking toil in
.. 4igurin o$ttle .trend ot tAe..rarus .
, veins, would Jead to that particular
pot of gold which bad been at tbe end
of Gallon's youthful rainbow ot nopes
Wilkerson was determined to be mas
ter of "The .Master Key." lie needed
the skilled aid of John Dorr with hid
engineering knowledge.
John Dorr knew that there was a
tremendous secret in Gallon's life rep
resented by the golden key which be
bad torn from his neck and banded to
Ruth when be was dying. That key
bad figures on it. He understood that
those scratches on that golden surface
represented something tremendously
Important, and that the old man had
committed Ruth to his charge and bad
spoken ot Wilkerson as bis former
partner and said, "AVilkerson knows."
What was it that Wilkerson knew?
It was better, thought Jobn. to accept
his amiable advances and thereby pos
sibly gain Ufc eoulidence and find out
for Ruth's ake that secret whk-h
Thomas Gallon had taken to his grave.
So ou tbe second day after the resto
ration of tbe old scale of wages and
his own reappointment as engineer In
charge John went down to the office
and said bluntly: "Look here. Wilker
son. maybe both of us have made a
mistake. I'm sure my only aim Is to
help oat In tbe promotion of The Mas
ter Key.'"
WilkersoD received him amiably.
"I'm sure my only Interest in this busi
ness Is to fetch into good ore. All that
we are digging out now Is dirt without
any pay in It." .
"I think I know where we can strike
first class 6tuCC" Dorr returned. "There
is sure pay rock if we travel south
from that main tunnel. We may have
to go a couple of hundred feet."
Wilkerson looked at him shrewdly.
That will cost money," he remarked.
"But I II take this up with Ruth."
John looked at him with a faint trace
of the old enmity in his eyes. He did
not like to bear the first name of the
mistress of "The Master Key" on those
Hps.
"If the mine Is not paying It's up to
us to mate tt pay." lie remarked.
When Wilkerson entered the bunga
low Rutb perceived a great change In
his attitude. lie was no longer sullen.
and be was evidently worried. It was
a clean worry, and 6he smiled at him.
Had not ber father come in with that
expression on his face many times?
Phe put her chin in the cup of her
bands and asked cheerfully, "What la
it. Mr. Wilkerson ?'
"May I sit down T he said awk
wardly. She motioned to a chair, and be pull
ed out of his pocket paper covered
with figures.
"I think yon ought to Know -bow
things are going along. Miss Gallon,"
ho said. . with unusual formality.'
"When your father made me superin
tewient of this mlpe l did not realize
that Uie responsibility was "so heavy as
tt is. .We are not making any money.'
We are losing money. Yon can see by
the report which I liave.here.that.oux
cieanup'Taieiy uaa Uau Itti leoa'TIHTO
our expenses. jsnd our Jast one sbQweC
practically nothing. " We must" find the
vein again. To do so we most bare
money. There 19 no money in The
Master Key' mine."
That's what father used to say
sometimes," said Rutb quietly. -But
he always got it-"
"'WTIlereolf TftsSea." ' "SUia TZZilon,l
hope that you don't think, that I'm cot
doing my best. 1 am. John Dorr and
I have gone over this matter together.
He agrees with me that we have abso
lutely lost the vein and that if The
Master Key' la to pay anything more
we must find it again."
Ruth's expression softened at tbe
mention of John Dorr's name. "What
does he think?" she demanded. "What
Is tbe chance of finding it again?"
"If we run west. Dorr thinks," said
Wilkerson slowly, "we'll recover the
vein, but that will cost money, which
we haven't got Do you realize. Miss
Gallon, that tbe pay roll here Is over
$1,000 a day? Within a week I have
to pay out over $30,000 for the month,
and 1 tell you frankly that when I
have paid that there will be no more
money to the account of The Master
Key In tbe bank in Silent Valley."
"Ruth realized that he was speaking
I the truth, even lessening the lmme
j diatcness of the catastrophe, but ber
! distaste of the man .was too great to
i allow her to discuss tbe matter with
him In the intimate way which she felt
was . necessary. She must see , John
Dorr.
She quickly dismissed Wilkerson and
then went to Dorr's office herself, meet
ing him at tbe door. She bore as a
gift a 6ioall basket of frulL Without
preliminaries she said, "Jobn, are we
broke?"
He laughed; then his face grew
grave. 'The mine is not paying." be
said briefly.
"But can't we make it pay? What
is the matter?"
"Money." said John.
"But why money?"
"It will cost $10,000 to drive that
new tunnel." John added as they en
! tered the office.
"But Mr. Wilkerson Just said be was
going to pay over $30,000 to the men."
Ruth said soberly. "If we have that
much money, why can't we"
A tenderness flooded Dorr's eyes. He
comprehended her helplessness, under
stood why old Thomas Gallon had been
so insistent that he. John Dorr, should ;
look after her. She was a-mere child
He tried to explain tbe exact situation,
with the result that Ruth finally push
ed him off bis high stool, got up on tt
herself and wrote in a large, childish
haid risht across, .the face of one ol
his new drawings. "1 must raise $10.
ooor
She swung around to John and asked.
"Bow can 1 get $10,000?"
Dorr hesitated. His plan was risky
In view of Wilkerson's attitude, but
after all. tbe money must be .raised.
He said quietly: "Pledge the stock you
own in Tbe Master Key.' 1 know a
man in New Tork who will loan you
$10,000 on if He bent over her ear
nestly. "But listen, Rutb. If we spend
the $10,000 and we don't find tbe moth
er iode, you lose the mine. It's just
like a mortgage on a farm."
"But you wouldn't suggest this If It
weren't the only way out." she said
briefly. "Now, how am 1 to do this?"
"You must go to New York and see
George'Everett 1 will give you a let
ter to him. and be will see to it that
you get the extra money we need.
Meanwhile I'll keep ,the mine going."
Ruth gave him her full eyes. "You
don't like Mr. Wilkerson. do you?"
"I don't trust him." he reolied.
At this moment the superintendent
entered the office and. seeing their two
heads close together over the desk, he
scowled.
"I came to see what we are going
to do about that new tunnel." be said
roughly. "I don't like to start tn any
thing I can't finish."
Rutb swung around to say quietly:
"I am going to New York city to see
Mr. George Everett, a friend of Mr.
Dorr's, and I will come back with tbe
$10.000.M
"Everett, Everett" repeated Wilker
son. "who is George Everett?"
Despite John's frowns, Rutb volu
bly explained. When she had finished
if
if -
4 't .
n.
3" ... Vr :,-:V-;,.f .T.il, 4
V - "jonn, are we broKef'.".
WJIkerson nodded and said: "I'll put
the men to work tomorrow. Dorr. Bet
ter iiave your plans ready!" He stamp
edout .'" .
--"YoaTiad better go" this afternoon,."
? . . .-. : X
TME -MASTER' KEY
John fofd Rutbr There" Is no' tiaieTo
lose," ' -
"All right," she said. "I'll be ready
In an-hour." . ,
John smiled., MA& right; I'll tike
yon over In the motor truck or 'shall
we ride to SUent Valley f
"I've never been to New York." she
said timidly, and with that inconse
quential logic whicb maidens have, she
nIded, "Let's ride. Til take Patey and
yoo can ride Black Joe."
Dorr did not understand at all that
In leaving her home for the great
strange elfcr she wished her last hours
tp'Se" BTled"wftb"iuh6nine"anJ a famil
iar zest of scurrying over dry Califor
nia on half broken horseflesh.
"All right, we'll ride," he said.
"While you are getting ready I'll write
a letter to George Everett"
Rutb laid one slender band on John's
shoulder.
"You're always doing things for me,
John," she said simply. "Some day Til
do something for you." She slipped
away without a backward glance.
Dorf watched her trip down the hill
toward her own little bungalow, and
It seemed to blm as if be held one end
of a golden thread that she wm spin
ning through sunshine. It was an
cbored In his heart That thread would
bo 3.000-miles long before she saw
good old Everett He picked up his
pen and wrote rapidly:
"Master Key" Mine, June -George
Everett, 111 Broadway. New Torh
City:
Dear George When a young, slender,
brown eyed, golden balred girl walks into
your office and says, "I'm Ruth Gallon'
and hands you the papers that she wil:
nave in her little hand bag. please tee
that she gets $10,000. Ever yours.
JOHN DO It a
He would have added more. His
finer Instinct told bim that Rutb should
be the first to put tbe whole scheme
before the cool beaded, rather cold
hearted George Everett ne addressed
tbe envelope and sealed it Then he
went to tbe telephone and called up
the station at Silent Valley.
"Bill." he said quietly after listeulng
a moment to see if auy oue was on the
iine. "I want to send a telegram. Take
-it over the wire, please. I'll
be down
"
in a little while and pay you.
"Sure." floated back a cheerful voice- I
"I wish my credit was as good as !
yours, ten miles away, but it seems as
If I have to be always present when 1
ask for it Go ahead. John!"
"This is it Bill," said John:
George Everett, 111 Broadway, New forK
City:
Miss Ruth Gallon leaves tonight to see
you about "Master Key" stock. Meet ber
and wire me on her arrival. Take good
care of her or I'll take care of you.
JOHN DORIC
Tbe operator repeated jbe nessage
and involuntarily adopted a little ot
John's savage intonation on the last
four words It woke him up to the
fact that he was allowing his feelings
to become public He begun to see
why it was that men looked at him
strangely at times, when it was a ques
tion of Ruths interests. He must re
strain himself.
The operator did not bang up imme
diately. bnt said hesitatingly: "Say.
John, there's a wire here; just came
ia from The Master Key' mine. It
does not seem to jibe with yours. Wil
kerson sent it."
Til play fair," said John to himself,
and he called back over the wire. "Hil
ly, that's yours and Wilkerson's busi
ness, not mine." If be had listened to
the tenor of the message directed to
Jean Darnell, in New York, he would
have learned what Wilkerson was plot
ting. For years Wilkerson bad built up for
himself a golden image in Jean Dar,
nell. No one realized better than him
self that she was, a creature of appe
tite. a lover of silk and velvet A wo
man whose eyes widened at sight of a
Persian cat Feminine in evtry de
gree, womanly in none. But be him
self, dominated absolutely, utterly and
completely by bis desires, had fallen
under her spell, and be was going to
wtn her, no matter how. It Is a
strange thing that when a dishonest
man finally yields to an honest passion
nothing will satisfy him but the ut
most observance of the ritnal of socie
ty. Harry Wilkerson's vision was of
walking up the aisle of a great church
to meet bis bride at the altar.
Yet he had always thought of her In
terms of gold: that was a contrast
the pallid, satiny, blue eyed woman,
voluptuous, soft and his image of her
built of yellow gold, dragged out of
the bowels of 'The Master Key" mine
This image was cow before his eyes:
Instead of the warm, sun blessed Cali
fornia hills, with their faint scent of
sage and cactus, he saw a richly fur
nished room and breathed the odor of
attar of roses. Let us not follow him
la his dreams. But looking over his
shoulder an hour later we, read:
"Master Key" Mine, June -
Jean Darnell. As tor House. New fork
City:
Find George Everett at 111 Broadway
and meet Ruth Gallon in Chicago on
Sante Fe express leaving- here this even
ing. Introduce Drake as Everett after
you have seen Everett and keep the girl
to yourself until 1 can arrange matters.
HARRY.
- "1 can't send this through any office
near here." he thought, "so I gness I'll
ride down to Va'De Vista and hand It
to the conductor. He can send it from
Los Angeles."
Three days later Ruth Gallon settled
herself In the seat of a Pullman that
was soon to leave Chicago for New
York, She was excited. In crossing
town from oue depot to another
through tbe streets roaring with traf
fic she bad heard sounds that had nev
er met her ears before tbe sounds of
the world's "business which, oddly
Ry JOHN FLEMING WILSON
enough, seemed" to' be mostly . named
over cobblestones.' The faint echo of
that noise still rcwig tn ber ears. It ap-'
.palled her tathjuk that 6he must dwell
with men who fjveil tp such W atmos
phere; also she felt very lonely. She
thought of tbe mine, of Tom Kane in
the door of His cook shanty, .of tbe
great ore bucket swinging across the
gulch toward the mill, of John, bend
ing over his blue prints and papers; or
the grave on the hill where her father
lay. still within the prectaicfc of ."The
Master Key."
It had been so Impressed upon her
that her mlsston was of vital Impor
tance to the mine, that these tender
emotions flowed into the same channel
with her really keen business instinct
She pulled the key. warm from her
bosom, out of its hiding place and look-.,
ed at it
"chapter VII I."
Jean Darnell's Ruse.
HIS must be Miss Gallon."
said a pleasaut voice.
Rutb looked up to see a
woman of florid beauty and
dressed in somewhat extravagant style
looking down at bet out of great taw
ny, velvet eyes. Western bred. Ruth
responded amiably tp this salutation,
though she had not tbe faintest idea
who the woman was.
"Yes. I aiu Miss Gallon,"
"I am Mrs. Darnell.' said the worn
an. "May I sit down? ' 1 am an old
fricud of your friend, John Dorr's. Lie
wired m? that I would find you on this
train." The lie was so plausible that
Rutb merely blushed, thinking that it
was one more token of John Dorr's
carefulness of ber comfort and safety.
To her inexperienced eyes this woman
represented . the tremendous city to
which she was going. Her dress, he?
manner, her jewels, the evasive per
fume that she affected were all strange
and impressive to her. She moved
over a little to allow Mrs. Darnell to
sit down. -
"John never spoke of you," said Kuth
simply. "I did not have the faintest
notion that I was to meet any of his
j frieuds. Do you live In New York?"
I "Yes. I live in New York. 1 happen
ed to be in Chicago, and through air.
Everett I beard from John."
"Oh. you know Mr. Everett!" cried
Ruth. "He is the man I am going to
see in New York." and she went on to
tell, as best she could, the gist of her
mission
It was typical of the woman to whom
she was talking that she did not inter- j
rupt this naive narrative. She sat in;
silken silence, occasionally allowing her i
great eyes to rest on Ruth's fair face'
with an assumption o affection. As I
a matter of fact she .was profoundly in-1
terested. Life. had taught Jean Dar-i
uell a great many things, and among !
them had been the great lesson of self ;
preservation the saving for herself of
money, of comfort.' of health and of,
good looks. Now it. was a question of i
money, prime among tliem all. and her ;
rather keen wits saw precisely the '
chances whicb Wilkerson was taking, j
She recalled his oft repeated statements '
that there was money in "The Master J
Key" and his Litest letters imploring
her to belp blm get control of the stock. !
When Ruth ended up with a gentle
"And so I told John I'd come and see
what I could do, the elder woman
smiled gently Times were not so, good
with her a- they bad been, and if Har
ry Wilkersoii rould put this deal
through and make money for them all
it would simplify many a problem
which she dully pondered at night.
"Mr. Everett will meet us at the
traln. she said briefly, "and then you
can tell hl.m all this. Meanwhile, sup
pose we talk about something else."
"But I can't think of anything else."
said Ruth.
"Oh. you will," said Mrs. Darnell.
"You can combine the' pleasure of see
ing New York with your little busi
ness. Mr. Everett will quickly settle
that part of it and I shall take great
pleasure In showing you about Manhat
tan. I presume yon are fond of op
era 7'
"I have never been to the opera."
Rutb responded. "I should love to go.
but when I do go I must go all alone?'
she went on impulsively. "I think op
era must be like church one wants to
go all by oneself."
Mrs. Darnell turned very slowly and
for the first time in many years reveal
ed a secret thought: "poyou know that
my only pleasant memories, my dear,
are of myself?" '
The bitterness of that confession,
with all its implication, wholly escaped
Kuth s sensitive but inexperienced
mind. Yet there was something in the
tone that warmed her heart to this ef
fulgent creature. At . least she was
not going into the great city all alone,
nor confront Mr. Everett by herself.
Mrs. Darnell made her reel that she
was cempetently protected.
When they arrived the next morning
at the Grand Central station in New
York city Mrs. Darnell quietly intro
duced ber to a slim, rather handsome
yonng man. who seemed ill at ease uu
til be bad drawn Ruth's companion
aside for a moment for a chat while
the porter collected their luggage.
"I don't Jast like this game," lie said
"In tbe first place. - Everett is'rt big
man in tbe city, and this Miss Gallon
doesn't look to me like girl you could
fool long. Anyway. I can't under
stand what you are trying to do, Jan
You must klio'w what sort of a fellow
Harry Wjlkerson is by-this time. - Why
play bis band for himV" , - :
- "1 don't notice - you nolding .any
trumps in your hand," she returned j
gently., but, with a faint glatn iv her
eyes wBictT maJe Lh5" "draw, oajff.
This Is my game, and'l expect you to
play your part You come on now and
be George Everett. The girl is as ig
norant as a pigeon. Kemember what
I told you."
"About that stock?" ne said sullenly.
"Yes. the stixk. ton understand
that she crime to New Vork simply to
raise money for this mine. Von are
supposed to u:ii(!:e the business for
her. If yon f.'.m t Irani all that is to
be learned about The ' Master Key
mine in the net two days you are
more than the fool I take you for."
Slu drew Him nark to where Rnth
stood amid Ihe suit eas-s ;iml hand
bags and said. "Miss Cation. Mr Ev
erett has bireti telling me that ne. too.
has heard from ,!h:i Uorr :i:.uut your
coming."
Kuth. scanned liiai politely. Hut the
intercut died in Iter eyes when she j
saw wlmt sort of a man he was He i
misfit Ih a friend ot Jiim: ne mlirlit I
be the man to res; i;e "Tile Master j
Key" from hankrupfey. nut he did not
interest Iter
Drake, trying to play the part of the
Eusy broker and.'heinu thoroughly rmd
temperamentally an actor. leit the-Jhili
of this lack of interest and would cer
tainly have fallen down ou his part
had lie not leen prompted l.v Airs
Darnell. He was glad to hasten uway
to tiud the elusive taxi.
The real (Jeorge Everett trot out of
his limousine on the comer of Vander
bi!t avenue aud Hurried through the
revolving doors: brisk, debonair, alert
decided; with that liaftiy style which
denies foppery and avoids surveill.-:ni
It seemed strange that he should have
a photograph in his band at which he
looked iuterjtly until he got iu the run
course. There he stopped and. with the
picture still in his baud, eouimeiiecd
watching the fa;'es of the people
thronging through the gates under thi
vast dome. As he waited he frowned
slightly. "Why bad John Dorr sent
him during business hours on a wild
goose chase?" He thought of this ;r
ticulalely and then smiled to himself.
A wild goose!' lie muttered. It
brought up darkling suuset vistas,
lakes smooth as quicksilver under the
evening sky. and slim. gray, beautiful
birds homing dowuward. The frown
left bis forehead
"After all it will be good to see some
body from out of doors," he said to
himself.
Half an hour later he discovered that
he had irretrievably missed the ar-
, rival of" the Chicago express and with
it Kuth Gallon. He went back into
his car and drove to his otBte. Once
there he called his head clerk., an an
cient aud fragile maiu as crisp and
bloodless as the mouey that passes u
Wall street aud told him to see at
what hotel Miss Kuth Gallon was sto:
ping. Then be wired John Dorr:
111 Broadway. New VorK
John Dcrr, "li aster Key" Alir.e. Silent ;
Valley, Cai.: i
CouM nit tind Miss Gallon at train. Am 1
SPek:ns tVr her. us it is important tl:;;
any
possible 'address
GEORGE EVKKETT.
Far out on Broad wa v. aliove the
eighties, an ofn-rator was ticking off
another message addressed to Harry
Wilkerson. It read:
; S A West Eighty-tourih St.. New Vorlt.
Harry Wilkerson. "Ma.-iter Key'" Mine, via
Valie Vita. Cat:
Everything all right George met Rutn
She is now with me and waiting turt.ior
particulars Have seen Everett uiKier
guise of prosptctive purcnaser ot stock
The girl is charm in
JEAN DARXEL.I.
Some houses, like some people, should
never be illumined with sunshine, ami
Mrs Darnell's residence, overlooking
the Hudson, was of this type. Its dull,
red stone front, marked by windows
that seemed blinJ. o all that went tn-.
was not distinctive in that neighbor
hood. A thousand doors within a mile
would have suggested to the passerby
nothing more nor less than the great
oak portals within which she lived. To
Ruth Gallon, of course, the house
seemed tremendously formal and state
ly. Within she found an atmosphere
so absolutely strange and alien to all
she had ever known that she shrank
within herself and had nothing to say
until she had been conducted to her
own room on the third floor aud a (lis
creet maid was busy unpacking her
things. Ruth felt that society had nl
ready laid its restrictions on her. She
recognized the maid as the "gown and
hat" policeman.
This silent but exceedingly obtrusive !
personage having retired at last Rnth
studied ber surroundings. When she
had completed ber survey she thought
to herself that there were two things
wanting. One was a silk haired I'er
sian cat and the other a flaming color
ed scarf across the bed that completed
the altogether of an apartment severe
ly luxurious. Then she tried to ana
lyze t'ae odor, delicate yet insistent,
which she was ever afterward to asso
ciate with Jean Darnell and her expe
rleuce tn New York.
At last sha traced It to some pallid
flowers in the great green and dark red
vase, whose unwholesome beauty was
that of plants whose roots have never
been In good, sound soil. They looked
to her much like lilies, whose pads bad
floated on some dark and opalescent
pool, viscid with odors of the night
She was still staring at these and
suitHng their scent through widened
nostrils when Mrs. Darnell knocked on
the door and entered slowlv. She bad :
changed her street gown for a negligee,
whicb instantly caught the girl's ap
preciative eye.
"You look, beautiful," she satd quick
ly. Jeau Darnell turned her tawny
eyes on her and smiled faintly.
"I am not usually up until noon, she
respo. d eiLl'a nd. 1 a m getting old.mv
dear, SD threw 6uf Her Jeweled
bauds with a sparkling gesture of bait
comic resignation. Ruth laughed.
"John Dorr says everybody gets old
in .New York. Don't you like bim T'
Mrs. Darnell looked into the clear
eyes ot tbe girl and almost failed to
follow ber baser Instinct Hut at that
loose throat she saw the heavy gold of
The Master Key." As if it had su
pernatural powers, the sight of that
key locked the door of her heart "Of
course J like John." she' said easily.
"We must get everything fised up now.
George will he here George Everett
of ronrse. I mean-'tontght and you
and he can talk the business over."
"You know, we simply mnst have
Hie money," Ruth returned earnestly.
"The mine isn't paying now. bnt John
knows where we can find the mother
ode again: iltt:i we'll. all be rich,"
"Ah'" said Jean Darnell. You're
selling stork. I presume ?"
"1 own it all." Rnth returned proud
ly. "It's my mine My lather left It
to me when be died " She did not see
rne sniien nam-ii mat siowiv named
until Jean Darnell's eyes fairly blazed.
In her own room she stood a moment
breathless. Then she tore off her fleecy
negligee in an Intensity of silent rage
and despair, seen only by the imescited
eyes of the god whom she had defied.
It i- wickedness. nrt virtue, which
is theatrical, and at this moment Jean
Darnell flung herself Into her evil pas
sion with all the abandon of the trage
dian, only her voice was almost Inau
dible: "Tna Gallon. Tom Gallon, dead
though you are. I'll have revenger"
When her fury had spent itself and.
like all physically indolent women, she
could not yield long to emotion he
prepared her campaign.
First she called up George Drake and
made certain that he would be at her
borne for diuuer that evening. Then
she called up two old acquaintances
why were always glad to fill empty
chairs at her well set table. This set
tled, she again sought Ruth and per
suaded ber from going down immedi
ately to Everett's olliee.
"Yon must be very tired, my dear."
Mrs. Darnell purred. "And. anyway,
you know, iu New York young ladies
do uot yo about unescorted to men's
business othVes. aud 1 cauuot go with
yon until tomorrow or uext day."
"That will be too late'." cried Rutb.
Mrs. Darnell opened her eyes wide,
as if in surprise. "Mr. Everett Is com
ing to dinner tonight" she said sooth
iugtx. "You can talk business to your
U's content right here."
"That will be much better." said
Ruth
j When ber hostess was gone she
stood by the window trying -toolhiDk
I more calmly of all that bad happened
j since she had left "The Master Key"
: mine, but one thought was prominent:
' "What was John Dorr doing?" She
recalled that there was three hours"
difference in time It was now 2 o'clock
in New York, aud it was only II in Si
lent Valley. Tom Kane would be just
making bis final preparations for din
ner, and she could almost smelt tht
odor of his coffee. These homely de
tails occupied her mind tenderly for an
hour; then she caught up and dressed j
herself for the street again.
She had barely ' finished when th
maid came in with tea. followed by
Mrs. Darnell. uiem; oi ine .board oi Kegentj a
"My child, what In the world are yo1 : Ca?t. Karry W. Bridges, Represent .v
going to do?" asked Jean. "Look, j tiva-elect from Cane Girardeau Cou -we'll
have tea together." I ty. They first met Dr. W. S. De
I was going out for a walk." Ruth j
ponded. "ou know 1 have never j
res pot;
.... z
31
" -y-
"What was John Dorr doing?
been In 'New York, and it seems
shame to waste this tine afternoon.
Anyway. I want some fresh air."
Mrs. Darnell looked at her thought
fully and smiled presently In a waj
that made 'Ruth flush. It seemed to
convict her of discourtesy to ber hos
tess. "You had best have tea!" and
the 'girl obediently removed her' bal
and Jacket aiid sat down.
It seemed to her that the rest of tht
afternoon passed In flashes of such en
tertnlnment as she bad never known
If must be remembered that Rritb; n
Ing In the mice nearly alt her lffe siocc
leaving school, had not bfld the advan-
iirsf s
rf . .- -..(.-. ; i t
-. ,!" . :, ' - : - j
- - !
A Ti I
rs. romance 01
Love, Life and
Money
tages or tne society er tramccr Uert
smart, clever women. Mrs. Darnell
was very clever and. she used her er
ery art to .keep Ruth's attention. She
succeeded.
That ulght at dinner George Drake
posing as George Everett, suddenlj
flushed darkly and turned to the gin
at his left. "Miss Gallon." he said It
a whisper, flashing his dark eyea to
ward his hostess to see If she wen
watching. "I really hope that the trnsl
you put In me yoo won't find mlilae
ed. I'll do everything I can to helj
you. even If It Is funny that I didn't
know that John Dorr has red balr."
Ruth looked at him very soberly. "I
don't Just understand a great manj
things." she said. "It all seems sc
strange, Mr. Everett, and. you know
I am worried. I ought to go to tht
RItz CarIton..and see If tbcre.are tele
grams for me. for that's where Johr
would wire me. I'm afraid Mrs. Dar
nell thinks Fm awfully impolite be
cause 1 want to go and make sure foi
j myself that John has not wired."
"I'll go myself." said the false Ever
eft looking at his plate "I'll go to
night In fa-. I'll go right now." He
caught Mrs. Darnell's eye and ait
apologetically: "I'm afraid, my deal
hostess. I'll have to leave yon. I bat
Just remembered my solemn promise
to be at the club at D o'clock, and. be
sides. I've promised Miss Gallon to gc
to the Rita and get her mail and tele
grams." ne turned to Ruth, and she
noticed a very grave look in his eyes,
whicb she was to understand later:
ne bent gallantly over her hand and
Itebtly kissed her fingers. "Yoo amy
trust me,' be said.
(To be Continued.)
LAWMAKERS SPEND
BUSY DAY HERE
Senator Craig Liuds City and is
Pleased With Normal
School.
The Legislative Investigating Com
mittee, which spent the greater part
of yesterday at the Normal School,
will depart today for Mountain Grove,
Mo., where they will inspect the State
poultry and fruit experiment stations.
The four solons were impressed
with what they saw here vesterday.
ar.d expressed hearty appr
management of the Nornu !
members of the committee .
ed Cows Girardeau before.
"It is certainly an enc' . . ."
said Senator Crsi'jr. "My : -has
increased rr.y knowlec : c-J
i state. Cae Girardeau is a splendid
town, with much business and an ele
gant location.
"The Normal School would be .t
credit to any city. It was a plcasa t
surprics to the committee. We ?pc !
a greater portion of the day inspev
;ng the DUiIaing3 and meeting th-
various heads of the department."
Xhe comRlittee was takn tJ e,
Normal School by Hon. Louis IicutL
mont President of the Ntrma', w -
. . .,
j tbt-ui ieu uie committee mrougn v
j ir.stiution.
t Dr. Dsarmont remained with t!
i lawmakers throughout the day a- i
: accompanied their, to a movii z pu
j ture show last evening. Whf tV .
concluded the day, the visitor.' wer
satisfied with the work here an w ; -
read y for rest.
Capt. Bridges and officials of 'J,
Normal hope to induce the Legislatuf
to authorize another building to b
used for Domestic Science and Agri
culture. Capt Bill announced Ia.-t
night th3t he wou!d take the matt."
Capital, and he spent the greater pa
: of yesterday endeavoring to convin--the
Legislative committee that the a !
ditional building was an absolute n -cessitv.
ARKANSAS FINDS MAN
TO EXECUTE 9 CONVICTS
Little Rock, Ark., Dec. 1 Peniten
tiary officials have found a successor
to Luther Castling, electrician atjth
State Penitentiary for the last ou r
years, who resigned rather than offi
ciate at the electrocution of a whit;
man, four of whem are now in the In
stitution awaiting their turn in tlu
electric chair. He is F. H. Dempsey.
an Arkadelphia electrician. Castlbi,
has chctrocafcrl three negroes, .bu
each time protested. A Pine Bluff ma i
vho agreed to take Castling'a place
failed to appear when he learned lie
would have to operate the chair.
Neal McLaughlin, a white man, who
was sentenced to be electrocuted to
morrow, was grafted an appeal today
by the State Supreme Court.- A girl
who. accused him of attacking her has
retracted ber story.
.1 ' . .
Annie Adams of Springfield, Mo., is
visiting friends in -this city.